Preparedness

Thursday, July 25, 2013

(Not) Just Another Volunteer

Red Cross Volunteers, Jerry Chavez and Ray Quintana

On July 5, 2013 I, along with three
others from the Central Valley were called to deploy to Arizona. Bakersfield, Fresno and
Tulare County Red Cross chapters working together facilitated the deployment of
all four of us to the Arizona Fires. The fire had already claimed the lives of 19 Granit Mountain Hot Shots on Sunday June
30, 2013. ERV’s 3104 from Bakersfield and 3071 from Fresno were summoned by
National Red Cross to Prescott, Arizona to
support the Yarnell fires that had devastated the community by fires and a
horrific tragedy of the 19 fire fighters who lost their lives in defense of
that community.

The 19
firemen’s deaths are the single biggest on duty fatalities in U.S. fire fighting history surpassed only by the 9-11 World Trade
Center terrorist attack in New York. It was an honor to respond with the
American Red Cross to aid those communities in need, and to have been part of
the memorial service for the 19 Hot Shots who perished. Firemen from across the
country attended the memorial service and the proceeding funeral services for
their fallen brothers. The Red Cross was asked to support and attend all these
heart felt events to provide cold water to the masses, for emotional or
psychological counseling, or just to give a hug to those mourning.

At the
funeral of one of the fallen firemen I thanked a Fire Captain for his service.
He in turn thanked me and the American Red
Cross for our service and shared this with me, “With everything that’s
going on, the one thing we could depend on is the Red Cross. Anytime we have
asked you guys to do something it got done with no worries. Thank You!” This
was a humbling experience that reminds us why we volunteer, to help others in
their time of need.

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American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a
government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its
mission.